Cookie Butter Buckeye Candies

Change the game, flip the script, and make these Cookie Butter Buckeye Candies!! A twist of traditional buckeyes, these mini Buckeye candies and made with cookie butter, yet still dipped in rich dark chocolate. I guarantee you will pop at least ten in your mouths!
I was born and raised in the inner city, Washington Heights, in fact. I still live in the inner city – In the Bronx – And I can attest, the inner cities are not burning. We’re not in danger walking to the store. We’re not dying at super alarming rates.
This isn’t 1979. The Bronx no longer burns and smolders. This isn’t the 80’s where the crack epidemic decimated our inner cities and thrust them into war zone status.
In fact, the Bronx just so happens to be one of the most resilient boroughs in NYC. From the smolder in the late 70’s and devastation left by the crack epidemic, The Bronx gave birth to hip-hop and breakdancing. Poetry rose out of these ruins. And though some parts remain poor, The Bronx has risen like the Phoenix.
I live here. In the Bronx. And though my family could relocate if we wanted to, we CHOOSE remain in the Bronx. We live here because moving means leaving the problems of the Bronx behind. It makes us susceptible to believing the narratives which depict the inner cities as a crime ridden, post-apocalyptic waste land – And this is far from the truth.
The majority of the people in my neighborhood live below the poverty line. We have middle class and more affluent families living here, yes; however, the vast majority lives either below, at, or hovering juuuuust above that line. Living at, near, or below the poverty line doesn’t make you a criminal. It makes you fucking poor.
I wish the “inner cities are burning” narrative would end. Is there crime in the inner cities? Yes, of course. There’s crime everywhere. There is also crime in rural areas within these United States and those rural areas aren’t being addressed unless they’re being pandered to. The spotlight of crime only shines on brown people, perpetuating fear of our neighborhoods. Of our people. Of our diversity. So yeah, I’m not moving to the suburbs. I will not raise my kids outside of the city. I remain here to tell you the Bronx isn’t burning.
I’m off my soapbox.
Now flow with me, let’s talk about these Cookie Butter Buckeye Candies. Buckeyes have been on my list for a while; HOWEVER! I have a surly teen at home who doesn’t like peanut butter, making me question my abilities as a parent. No, really. I question where the hell I went wrong with this one.
Instead of forcing the boy to eat balls of peanut butter dipped in chocolate, I decided to go the cookie butter route. I used my last jar of Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter and had me a dipping party. It was fun.
Buckeyes are super easy to make, with very few ingredients. Cookie butter is mixed with unsalted butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract until a crumbly mixture forms. This mixture is formed into balls, chilled, and then dipped in chocolate mixed with a trivial amount of coconut oil or Crisco. You know, to keep its shinies.
I made them super mini. I like candies you can pop quickly in your mouth. I admit, this could be dangerous, but there are more dangerous things to worry about. These Cookie Butter Buckeyes should be the least of your worries.

Instructions

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (hand mixer works here too), add cookie butter, unsalted butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium/high speed until the mixture comes together. It will look a bit crumbly and that is OK.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Remove bowl from the mixer and with a tiny cookie scoop, scoop balls of the mixture and place in the palm of your hand. Pinch it lightly in the center and then roll into balls. Place cookie butter balls on the lined cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in the freezer and allow the cookie butter balls to firm for at least 30 minutes.

While the balls firm up, melt the chocolate and coconut oil (or vegetable oil) until melted over a double broiler, or a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Pour the melted chocolate mixture into a small bowl or glass.

Remove the cookie butter balls from the freezer. Working quickly, pierce the cookie butter balls with a toothpick and dip into and set the chocolate, leaving a circle free of chocolate on top. Allow the excess chocolate to drip back into that set the chocolate dipped buckeye candy on the parchment lined cookie sheet.

You can place in the refrigerator to allow the chocolate to harden, or you can leave at room temperature. Note, it will take much longer for the chocolate to harden at room temperature.
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.